English-Congolese Ezri Konsa ‘buzzing’ after dream Arsenal home debut against Chelsea

Arsenal new boy Ezri Konsa was left delighted after helping the Premier League champions secure a 2-1 victory over Chelsea on his home debut on Sunday.

The 28-year-old defender, who joined Arsenal from Aston Villa during the summer for a reported £55 million, completed his first full 90 minutes for the club in a fiercely contested London derby.

Konsa marked his first appearance in front of the Arsenal supporters with a valuable three points, helping the reigning champions recover from falling behind to claim victory.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, the England international revealed his excitement at making his home debut and immediately contributing to a winning result.

“I felt at home since the first moment I joined, the boys have been top, the staff have been top. Buzzing to make my debut at home and three points is the most important,” he said.

‘We reacted fantastically’

Konsa was born in England to a DR Congolese father.

Arsenal had to show character after conceding first, but Konsa was pleased with the response as they fought their way back into the contest.

The former Aston Villa defender acknowledged that conceding is part of the game but stressed the importance of reacting positively, particularly for an Arsenal side that places considerable emphasis on defensive solidity.

“It’s part of football, it’s all about how you react. Over here I know we are big on clean sheets but we reacted fantastically,” he said.

Konsa’s defensive contribution was particularly important as Arsenal managed to withstand Chelsea’s attempts to regain control after the hosts turned the match around.

Crunching Rogers tackle gets Emirates rocking

One of the defender’s most memorable moments came when he produced a strong challenge on former Aston Villa teammate Morgan Rogers.

The tackle immediately lifted the atmosphere inside the Emirates, with Konsa admitting that getting such challenges right can provide a special feeling for both the player and supporters.

“It got the crowd going. If you get it wrong it is bad but if you get it right it’s always a good feeling,” he said.

Konsa also believes Arsenal could have made the victory even more convincing, suggesting the champions created enough opportunities to score more goals.

“On another day I think we score three or four.”

The victory gives Konsa an encouraging start to life in north London, with his debut performance providing an early indication of the defensive role he could play as Arsenal look to defend their Premier League crown.